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La Val's Pizza
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We offer a thin cornmeal crust pizza with a variety of quality toppings. We also offer a Gluten-free crust and a Vegan mozzarella cheese. In addition… read more »
68 reviews for La Val's Pizza
Review Highlights
"Do not miss out on the BBQ Chicken."
(in 14 reviews)
"I'm a fan of their small but perfect salad bar."
(in 19 reviews)
"Thin crust done to near perfection."
(in 6 reviews)
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer T.
Alameda, CA
9/15/2011
The pizzas here is really good! I enjoyed the bbq chicken pizza the most. I came with a big group so I'm not sure about the price. I think this is my favorite restaurant in Bayfarm. I remember we had a great time watching a soccer match here.
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Review from Melissa H.
Alameda, CA
10/3/2011
I grew up on La Val's pizza. It was always my favorite, maybe because I did not have a basis for comparison. They make a decent pizza, but after my most recent experience, I will not be going back. Sad to see a local business push lifelong customers away.
I ordered multiple pizzas on a Saturday night for a birthday party. When they arrived, they were horrible. Flat, and nasty looking. I mean dollar store microwave pizzas look better than this. Seriously, the cardboard of the box was thicker than the pizza. I cannot stress how bad this pizza looked, let alone how it tasted. Knowing this was very unusual, I called to see what had gone wrong. The lady I spoke with said they had run out of dough (on a Saturday night at 7?!!!!!! WTF???) So they made a new batch "on the fly" and it did not have have enough time to sit so it did not rise. The pizza was INEDIBLE, it tasted disgusting so I asked for a refund so I could order from elsewhere (keep in mind I have 15 hungry people at my house). They said they could not give a refund because my son had already eaten a piece of the pizza. They said they would gladly send out more pizza! More crappy pizza??? Seriously?
I can appreciate that things go wrong occasionally, but they could have made it right.
I asked what else they could send out for my hungry guests. They sent me two orders of chicken wings and two orders of garlic bread with salad. That was very nice, but 20 chicken wings and some bread does not make a meal for 15 people. Not to mention, the wings etc. were sent begrudgingly and with out even a hint of apology. They could have done better for the 65 bucks worth of pizza I ordered that went straight to the trash.
In very poor taste La Val's! -
Review from Gene W.
Highlands Ranch, CO
9/30/2011
Just got done eating here. I was alone, they dont sell by the slice, so I ordered a mini and a side of garlic bread with cheese. The place was empty, I was after lunch, but before dinner, perfect.
My pizza and bread came quick, kinda like a high school kid getting some after prom night, 5 minutes, tops!
My pizza was done right and it was pipping hot. The taste was good, with a crunchy thin crust. The garlic bread was good too. Nice spot to hit when you are hungry, but I am sure there is better someplace in the area. A decent spot. If I lived in the area, I would hit it up again. -
Review from Alana D.
Alameda, CA
7/5/2011
Went there with family a week ago and won't be going back. We had the bbq chicken pizza which was disgusting - soggy crust, too much bbq sauce, too sweet, raw onions, too much bacon... couldn't actually taste any chicken. It was a sweaty mess.
The salad bar offered less variety than what you'd find at a typical round table, and the tortellini salad looked a bit dried-out. I took one bite of that and immediately spat it out and spent the rest of the meal wondering if I'd just dosed myself with salmonella - it was definitely bad. Gone-off. Stale. Nasty. I didn't get sick but i did feel weird for the next 24 hours. I took the container out of the salad bar so nobody else would make the same mistake, and brought it back to the kitchen. Owners: it's one thing to rotate your stock, it's a bad thing to "marry" stock where you place old pasta salad atop the new salad and pile it so high the fridge underneath can't keep it cold on a a hot day.
Front counter staff was self-absorbed and indifferent. We were unimpressed. -
Review from Casey S.
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Imagine, if you will, getting back from San Francisco via the nearby ferry station. You're hungry for something substantial, but the only thing nearby is the pizza joint La Val's. Sounds good, right?
You put down more money than you should for a medium pizza, wait ages for your pie, and then get a bland, doughy mess that isn't worth your while. Dejected, you go home, hungry and craving more.
End. -
Review from Kelly C.
Alameda, CA
6/6/2011
This place is like steppin back in the way back time machine...We went here on the recommendation that this was the best pizza in Alameda. It's not. The pizza was OK for me. Mr. Kelly who claims to be a 'bread connoisseur' says the crust isn't very good. I, not being a bread person, couldn't tell. It seemed fine.
This is thin crust which I prefer and the ingredients seemed very fresh.
The employees however..... The dumbest blond working the register failed to give us our number which she instead gave to the teenagers in line behind us. Then she also gave our pizzas to this group of teenagers who promptly put it in a to go box and left the place. What was she thinking? She took our order, she took their order and she still gave our pizzas to them. If she was intelligent she would have known who ordered what. I mean the place had like 4 people in it. Thankfully the manager actually has a brain in her head and made things right. But sheesh. Take the blond off the register!
This place gets two stars because the ingredients are fresh, you can get a seat on a Saturday (or maybe that's a bad thing), the salad bar is decent and the old 70's feel take me back to knee high socks and ringer tees. WHEEEEE -
Review from Mariel F.
Alameda, CA
4/30/2011
La Val's is the closest pizza place that is located near my house.
I recommend the La Val's Special & the Garlic Bread with Cheese.
That is what I usually get from here.
The food is quite tasty.
Best Pizza place in Alameda. -
Review from Jesse G.
San Jose, CA
3/27/2011
It was okay. Run by teens who act like teens. Tomato and zucchini slices are little odd for me. Crust was a little burnt, but crisp-ish.
Not a big deal.
The positive note - there was NO ONE there, so we had the run of the salad bar - which was also pretty good but not special. -
Review from Seamus M.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2011
I've just moved to harbor Island so La Val's pizza was the only easy pizza to get. BBQ chicken it was and my new fav. New York crust, someone said too much bacon - that's impossible. Even a pig doesn't have too much bacon. Too much money, too much good luck, too much good weather, too much chocolate.... I think not. You can't taste the mushrooms though but you can taste the chicken and BBQ sauce. and the bacon. The question is can I order a different pizza next time. NO, if it's not broke don't fix it. 4 stars until I check out the other stuff like the pasta.
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Review from Susan F.
Oakland, CA
12/4/2011
Everyone knows about the great pizzas here, but La Val's is also a place where groups can have a nice, casual event upstairs. We had caesar salad, a delicious pasta and pizza for about 40 recently. What's nice is that the drinkers can go downstairs and buy beer and wine, so hosts needn't worry about the bar bill. The food is delicious and the space is really well suited to mingling.
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Review from Nickel C.
Alameda, CA
8/26/2011
This place brings back memories. The pizza is so good but its so much better in squares so get the party size! I don't know what it is but its so good in those little square pieces.
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Review from Brendan J.
Fremont, CA
7/30/2010
Having tried a few pizza places in Alameda, La Vals is by far the best. The bbq chicken pizza is delicious with bacon bits, cheese, bbq chicken all packed on a saucy base, baked just right. The Canadian bacon and pineapple overflows with pineapples and is equally delicious. For second there felt like a pineapple exploded on the pizza. Its delicious and healthy since you get a serving of fruits too.
Finding the pizza place isnt the easiest, but if you circle enough you'll find it. -
Review from jeff w.
Alameda, CA
11/17/2011
Very average pizza. So-so crust. Veggie pizza was somewhat soggy. Several better choices in Alameda.
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Review from Giovanna G.
Bay Area
6/12/2010
I'm a pizza FREAK and this place did not disappoint. We had 1/2 greek and 1/2 bbq pizza. I shouldn't have ordered the BBQ because I personally do not like bbq sauce on my pizza but I was too pre-occupied w/other things that night and I just went for it. I didn't want to be the girl who was like," can I order the BBQ chicken, except no BBQ sauce?".
The bbq sauce was too sweet for me (I am a red sauce kinda girl all the way) BUT the toppings were delicious. There were tons of crisp bacon and chicken. The Greek pizza was awesome. Tons of flavor w/the feta and sausage. The pizza had a good balance of sauce, toppings and cheese. The crust was perfect and not too thin or thick.
Oh yeah we got this delivered so, I cannot comment on the actual restaurant's service. The delivery boy seemed nice and the pizza was delivered w/in 45 mins which is pretty standard.
YAY PIZZA.Listed in: Italian/Pizza Fix
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Review from Matt M.
Alameda, CA
6/30/2011
A - for service, B - for taste, C - for price.
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Review from Charlie S.
Soquel, CA
7/31/2011
I was traveling with a girl's softball team so we ordered delivery. The 11 pizzas came in a reasonable time still hot. The BBQ chicken pizza was better than someone else's review said. I didn't care for the veggie combo (alfalfa sprouts n pizza?) but the meat combo was good. Pepperoni a bit dried out. Crust average. Overall average.
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Review from Michelle S.
Brookline, MA
12/4/2009
I'll be pulling long, late nights at work for the next few weeks. I've been doing so for the past month or so. This is obvious as you can tell that I'm carrying around some extra baggage lately...and I don't mean a clingy guy. Anyway, we've got some aggressive deadlines coming up.
The thing that sucks the most about working late is that you need dinner at some point. My company has a vending machine and sandwich fixings but that's a) unhealthy and b) I %$#@ing hate sandwiches. Gets old, you know?
Well, my work is, like, way out past the airport in BFE and who the #@$% is going to deliver out there at a reasonable price after work hours? La Val's. And even though their pizza is far from the best, it is also far from the worst. My edible and reasonably-priced pizza showed up quickly.
I hope not to do this too regularly though. The lab coats I wear may be good at hiding gained weight, but the skinny jeans aren't. :/Listed in: Pizza, The Island
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Review from Greg G.
10/8/2008 3 photos
This one has been a long time coming...
When i was a little kid, this used to be my favorite pizza spot. Birthday parties, sports parties, dad getting drunk with his friends and bringing you along parties... it was just the best pizza spot as a kid.
As i got a little older(and started tasting pizza outside of Alameda) i realized La Vals still held up, but certainly wasn't the greatest(or most affordable) anymore... and pretty much stopped coming here.
Now that I'm even older, i realize how really different and awesome this pizza is. There's just something about the crust... no, no... there's something about the cheese... no i mean, there's something about the sauce.. i mean really, this pizza is totally different than any other pizza around. And it's good.
I have two suggestions. First, try the BBQ Chicken Pizza. This pizza is without a doubt one of the most amazing food items I've tasted in my lifetime. Forget the fact it's a pizza... it's like an orgasm of meat and onion and BBQ all at once-- it's so good i don't even consider this a pizza, it's a specialty meal. And second, get some coupons from there website. While this place is good, the prices are a bit steep... i go for the Medium Madness deal coupon. GO HERE: http://www.lavalspizza... -
Review from Ivy R.
1/30/2009 2 photos
I was starving today and had to drop off something for a customer in the same shopping center so I thought, "Hmm lets try here because I'm about to eat my own fist."
The menu is small to see and its small in general when you walk in. From looking at the place on the outside I didn't know it was a pizza place. I thought it was some type of sit down restaurant. It took me a minute to figure out what I wanted.
I ordered the mini pizza with creamy garlic sauce, chicken, tomato and artichoke hearts. The price was OK. Not to expensive. The pizza on the other hand wasn't spectacular. I have had better pizza in my life. It also included the salad bar and I just couldn't do it for some reason. I don't know I have an issue with the words "Sneeze Guard". Not their fault just another thing I have.
As I was sitting eating my pizza a woman walked over to get some salad and dropped a pair of tongs on the ground and without even a hesitation just picked them off the ground and put them right back up on onto the salad bar. Sorry next person who wants to use them, they were on the ground. She didn't even pretend to go just set them on the front counter so they wouldn't be near the rest of the salad. Again not the restaurants fault just some dumb careless customer who was there.
I probably will not go out of my way to eat here again.Listed in: Am I Italian?, Alameda!
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Review from LuX P.
Oakland, CA
6/20/2006
Remember
after the little league game and
the whole team would go to Shakey's or Straw Hat for pizza? The dads would get
fucked up on Bud and
come to think of it my mom would get pretty lit up too(hopefully I drove us home?).
Well,
La Val's in Alameda reminds me of those old days.
The pizza is thin and slightly bubble crisp. They gotta have the oven jacked up to sun temp cause the pizza comes out almost instantly. Good beers on tap served in chilled mugs and
the salad bar is fresh.
They even have pinball upstairs.
There's actually a baseball diamond in the park across from it.
Slosh ball anyone?Listed in: CHEESE SAUCER CHOWDOWN, Let's EAT
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Review from Samir K.
Alameda, CA
8/29/2010
Ah, La Val's. I've been going here pretty much my whole life and have enjoyed it the entire time. Sure it's expensive and there's better pizza places in Oakland, but the location gives this one a bonus star. I used to go here at the end of every season (soccer, baseball, rugby, etc.) for our team parties upstairs- the kind where the parents picked La Val's just so they can get hammered while the kids drink too much soda and lose too much money in the arcade games. Anyway, on to the food. The cheese and sauce are very flavorful, and the infinite toppings are always good. Sometimes the crust can get overdone and too crispy, but usually it's a hit.
The salad bar is whatever, and I haven't had any of the sandwiches or pasta dishes, but have heard good things. -
Review from Allison L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/28/2006
People who love La Val's love it because they've been coming here since they were little kids and they have good memories attached to it. I have that, plus my brother and co. all ended up working here at some point during high school which always equaled free pizza and as anyone knows, free pizza is the best tasting pizza.
Another case in point: I was home in Alameda over the summer, drunk with a large group of friends and suddenly we were all starving (drinking does that to you, kids). And where did everyone scream out that they wanted to go? That's right: La Val's. Granted, yes, it was around midnight and the place was closed and we were all too old to have any "connections" who might be inside cleaning up, but still, the fact that we drove all the way out to Bay Farm for pizza should say something. Or maybe we were all just really drunk. I don't know. lolListed in: Home.
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Review from Patrick G.
Alameda, CA
11/20/2007
4 stars for really good pie. Thin crust done to near perfection. Salad bar leaves a bit to be desired. It's cheap at only $4, but still...ya' think you could shread the carrots?
Ambiance is weird. It's just set up wrong. Music blaring through the restaraunt is very elevator. The entire place can hear your conversation.
The food is really good though. The people that work there are really laid back. Customer's regularly take the small pizza plate and use them for salads and nobody cares.
If you want a good laugh, ask them about their Frequent Diner Card. 1.2 points for every dollar spent on dine in. 1.1 points for dollar spent on take out. 1 point for every dollar spent on delivery.....what??? Put on a helmet and get in the game guys. 5 pizzas should equal one pizza. (or something like that).
It's good. That's it.Listed in: A-town edibles, Pizza throughout the Bay
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Review from Jim D.
11/22/2009
La Val's is one of those places that I have gone to for many years and their pizza has always been very good. Everyone I know brings a coupon of sort and I happen to score with a 50% off anything coupon. Can you say major discount. On the walls you see pictures of Oakland Raiders, Oakland A's and Golden State Warriors.
I ordered the La Val's special and this is one large pizza with everything on it. Start with the meat.....linguica, sausage, pepperoni, salami, and hamburger. Might as well throw on a piece of steak on it.
Add the mushrooms, green bell peppers, some onion and you are set. The crust is not doughy, it is light and very tasty. When I want my pizza fix I come to this place. -
Review from KAI S.
Oakland, CA
10/25/2009
********DISCLAIMER: Each La Val's is owned and operated by different people and is its own soverign unit... So don't apply this rating to say the Telegraph location, which is much better (see my review for that one on its page)**********
This is [only] the SECOND time I've had to leave a 1 star review, but this place deserves it......!
The first experience my girlfriend and I had was walking into this place (which looks pretty cool on the outside & inside) and trying to ask someone at the counter for information.....
We were ignored and when we finally got service, they were rude and acted annoyed to have to talk to us (and we were being, as always, very nice/friendly).
The second time, low and behold, once AGAIN we're ignored and then greeted with rude service by the jocky employees there.....
We ordered a medium pizza to share between us and walked to find a table. On the way we noticed the salad bar area (which was messy and unkempt; littered with food particles).....
When the pizza [eventually] arrived we quickly realized it was bland, unoriginal, and actually almost tasted kind of BAD (I've had pizza a trillion times better than theirs!).
We instantly vowed to never eat there ever again.............. You shouldn't either! -
Review from Jennifer E.
Alameda, CA
12/15/2007
I don't particularly like pizza, but in hopes to hide upstairs in the corner and read magazines unnoticed by the world.
Crap! I forgot this place is the mecca of birthday parties. But since pizza had already been decided on I grabbed a corner booth and wished I had remembered my head phones.
It took me two tries before I found a clean fork to accompany the free salad bar which held me over for the 20 minutes it took my pizza to arrive hot and steaming at my table. Unfortunately, as stated previously, I don't really like pizza - so I can not speak too highly of the chicken garlic special. It had such little bite that I didn't even need gum afterwards. It also lacked the excessive amounts of grease that my body so craves after a night of drinking, but in the long run I suppose I am better off. -
Review from Rob J.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2009
Honestly... I've been buying pizza from this place for over 20 years. I've experienced mixed results. Nine times out of ten, I'll ask for extra sauce and end up with extra cheese. I don't even want to ask for it to be corrected.
I took my friends from the United Kingdom here, they thought it was great. However, everything in the UK tastes pretty bland - except the yummy Indian food. So take the comment as you will. -
Review from Rebecca C.
San Diego, CA
1/10/2011
OMG their wings are so good!! I went to Alameda/sf for a week last year for vacation and my friend took me here and we got pizza/wings takeout. This place still has a place in my heart considering i loove wings. so if you're craving wings and reading this, go for it!!! Pizza's really good too
Listed in: Norcal
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Review from Megan M K.
Alameda, CA
1/22/2011
The pizza and cheesy bread is pretty fantastic. its a bit on the greasy side and it sucks they don't deliver sandwiches but i wouldn't count them out for a dinner choice cause of it.
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Review from Keith L.
Fair Oaks, CA
10/15/2007 1 Check-in Here
There are two La Val's locations near UC Berkeley (one Southside, one north). As an undergrad, I would frequent the Southside location for a cheap slice or two at lunch, and if you could get a seat, a great place to split a pitcher and pie with friends to watch a Cal football or basketball game on the big screen. Ah, fond memories...
As a Cal grad now living in Alameda, I'm biased. I consider myself lucky to have another La Val's within 5 minutes of my house and much less crowded. The place is a bit old and dingy with uncomfortable wooden furniture. There is also a large, open room upstairs with big screen for family parties and sports viewing. Popular with the softball crowd I'm sure.
The pizza is as good as the other La Val's, which is to say a good thing. If you've never had La Val's, but grew up in the Bay Area, it's closest in style and taste to the old Shakey's pizza chain. The crust is bubbly with a firm, crisp texture (not as thick as Shakey's, but close) and zesty sweet sauce. Best if you eat in as the crust gets chewier if you get take out or delivery. They also have a pretty standard self-serve salad bar if you want some roughage.
And I did notice this last time my to-go order was ready in "10-15 minutes." So a great option if you are hungry and can't wait to eat. It's not a sit-down place; you order and pickup at the counter no matter what, so I'm not including service in my 4-star rating.
Last but not least, GO BEARS (though they just blew their one chance for a #1 national football ranking in the last 50+ years)!!! -
Review from Tony Z.
Alameda, CA
4/10/2011 1 photo
Best pizza around hometown Alameda.
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Review from Laurie H.
12/16/2010
Short review. Took my son to a goodbye party here where the parents had pre-ordered pizzas for everyone. I decided to try a bite of one that had sprouts on top....I think there were tomatoes and green peppers and onions too...anyway, one piece turned into about four I believe. The sauce was delicious, and the crust was cooked just right. My tastes usually run to the ultra-thin-crust pesto gourmet style pizzas, but I gotta say that this really hit the spot for me. Maybe it brought back memories of Shakey's or Straw Hat when I was a kid....good times!
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Review from Jenn D.
Alameda, CA
7/24/2006
I'm not sure why so many folks love this place, I'm not a big fan. Sure, it'll do in a pinch, I've had worse. The restaurant itself does take you back to the old days of after-sports-events gatherings as a kid, but the pizza isn't that great.
This weekend we had the BBQ Chicken pizza delivered. It came really fast compared to other pizza places (less than 30 minutes) and it was **loaded** with toppings. Unfortunately, the chicken was dry and tasted funny, and there was WAY too much bacon on it - it overpowered the rest of the pizza. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Ithaca, NY
5/9/2007
We order pizza from here at least once a week. The BBQ sauce is to die for. I get a veggie version of the BBQ Chicken pizza; the boy goes for all the meat. Either way...yummmmmmmmmmmmm.
I'm a pizza snob, having spent many years on the east coast, eating those big, floppy slices of thin crust heaven. La Val's has made me re-evaluate, and I now realize that a thicker crust and quality ingredients can be a wonderful thing. -
Review from Raymond M.
San Jose, CA
10/10/2009
*3.5 stars*
A brief history. The first time I ate at La Val's was in 1986. There was Gauntlet I and Super Sprint arcade games. Lots of kids my age hung out to play the games.
Times have changed and La Val's still here ^^ I was in the area and checked out if La Val's still here. The arcade games are on the second floor and there is an air hockey table. The atmosphere is a typical pizza place. Could use a touch up of paint and upgrade the TV on the second floor, lol. Given the location and the longevity, I'm confident La Val's have plenty of regulars including local sports people.
Aside from the interiors, I ordered the combo personal pizza. The taste was expected. Nothing really special to give it hype. I got a free salad that was awesome. One free drink refill.
I had a good time eating at La Val's and thinking about 1986. -
Review from Michael L.
Oakland, CA
11/3/2009
I love La Val's i go here after a round of golf to wind down, have a pizza and a couple of beers with friends. the upper level has a big screen tv and for the most part shows the biggest games. I love the pizza as you can't go wrong with anything that you order. another favorite are their sandwiches, if your not in the mood for pizza and your looking for a quick bite, try their torpedo.
La Val's Special: A
All Meat: A
torpedo: A
submarine: A -
Review from Marty G.
Alameda, CA
5/31/2009
La Val's is Bayfarm Island's local (and only that I know of) pizza joint. It's hidden in the Safeway shopping center and is easily missed unless you venture into the back of the strip.
On entering, the place reminds me of the old school pizza joints you used to go to with your family before Pizza Hut and Domino's became popular. This is a family place (usually evidenced by the hoards of little kids running around) that also happens to serve beer for the adults.
There's entertainment for the slightly older kids in the form of video games and for the big kids, large screen TV upstaris usually tuned to some sporting event.
"Thanks for the background and all, but what about the pizza?" you say? Well the pizza is pretty good. Is it the best you'll ever have? No, but it is better than the average. From a cost/taste perspective, I've switched from ordering Round Table to La Val's when I get my pizza cravings. I find their pizza's to be less greasy, the crust is tasty and cooked well, and not too salty overall like some pizza joints can be. Plus you can't really beat a medium combo pizza for $17 that for the taste, you'd pay mid 20's for elsewhere. -
Review from pgm j.
Woodside, CA
6/28/2009
Cheap ,decent mini chain (about 3.5 stars).
Good service with no attitude.
So so salad bar and when it's soccer mom time ,this place is loaded with obnoxious ,loud kiddies.
Worth a visit if you need a pizza fix and are in the neighborhood. -
Review from Marie W.
Alameda, CA
8/18/2011
I want to give kudos to Emmi, the manager, of LaVals . They made a mistake on our pizza order tonight and she remade our pizza and gave us coupon for our next order. This is the reason why we patronize a local pizza parlor for their extra ordinary service that they provide to their customers.
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Review from Gabby h.
Ashland, CA
10/6/2010 10 Check-ins Here
The Best pizza in The East Bay Area...hands down.
